Device for picking up stacks of products from a support

Abstract

A device for picking up stacks of products from a support, wherein a head for picking up a stack of products from a flat support is provided with presser elements adapted to act on the stack and with a flexible lamina adapted to enter between the stack and the flat support; the pick-up head supports presser cylinders to act on the flat support, and the lower end of the presser cylinders has feet that are movable between an inactive position and a position for insertion between the stack and the flat support to raise the stack at least at the region for the insertion of the lamina between the stack of products and the flat support.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A device for picking up stacks of products from a support, comprising: a head for picking up a stack of products from a flat support, said head being movable along perpendicular axes and including a supporting bracket;   first presser means being mounted on said bracket of said head, said first presser means being operatable for fixing the stack on said flat support;   a flexible lamina mounted at a lower base of said head, said lamina being slidingly movable with a reciprocating motion at the base of said head to enter in an insertion region between said stack and said flat support;   second presser means having lower ends for acting on said flat support, said second presser means being supported by said head; and   feet elements rotatably mounted on said second presser means, at said lower ends thereof, said feet elements being rotatable in mutually opposite directions between an inactive position in which they exert pressure on said flat support, and a position for insertion between said stack and said flat support for raising said stack at said insertion region to facilitate insertion of said lamina.   
     
     
       2. Device according to claim 1, wherein said second presser means comprises two cylinders having vertical axes, each of said cylinders being fixed in an upward region to a cross-member, said cross-member being supported by said head, said cylinders being provided with extendable rods, said feet elements being rigidly and eccentrically supported at free ends of said rods. 
     
     
       3. Device according to claim 2, further comprising actuator means for respectively moving said rods vertically and for turning said rods about said respective vertical axes so as to rotate said feet in mutually opposite directions between said inactive position and said insertion position. 
     
     
       4. Device according to claim 3, wherein said feet are eccentrically mounted on said rods for being directed towards each other in said inactive position and, upon rotation into said insertion position, to be arranged parallel to each other and to said lamina. 
     
     
       5. A device for picking up stacks of products from a support, comprising: a head for picking up a stack of products from a flat support, said head being movable along perpendicular axes and including a supporting bracket located in an upward region thereof, a front region and a lower base;   first presser means for pressing on an upper region of the stack, said first presser means being mounted on said bracket of said head and being operatable for acting independently on said upper region, at least in proximity of a first end side of said stack;   a flexible lamina mounted at said lower base of said head, said lamina being slidingly movable with a reciprocating motion at the base of the head to enter in an insertion region between said stack and said flat support;   second presser means being supported at said front region of said head for vertical movement, said second presser means having lower ends for acting on said flat support; and   feet elements rotatably mounted on said second presser means, at said lower ends thereof, said feet elements being rotatable in mutually opposite directions between an inactive position in which they exert pressure on said flat support, and a position for insertion between said stack and said flat support for raising said stack at said insertion region to facilitate insertion of said lamina.   
     
     
       6. Device according to claim 5, wherein said second presser means comprises two cylinders having vertical axes, each of said cylinders being fixed in an upward region to a cross-member and arranged between an upright and a respective profiled element of the stack, said cross-member being supported by said head, said cylinders being provided with extendable rods, said feet elements being rigidly and eccentrically supported at free ends of said rods. 
     
     
       7. Device according to claim 6, further comprising actuator means for respectively moving said rods vertically and for turning said rods about said respective vertical axes so as to rotate said feet in mutually opposite directions between said inactive position and said insertion position. 
     
     
       8. Device according to claim 7, wherein said feet are eccentrically mounted on said rods for being directed towards each other in said inactive position and, upon rotation into said insertion position, to be arranged parallel to each other and to said lamina. 
     
     
       9. Device according to claim 5, wherein said head comprises two uprights arranged symmetrically with respect to said lamina, and wherein each stack has vertical profiled elements, each one of said uprights contacting a respective one of said profiled elements. 
     
     
       10. Device according to claim 5, comprising a blade, said blade being slidingly movable at the base of said head with a reciprocating motion, said flexible lamina being fixed at a front part of said blade so as to be movable along with the blade. 
     
     
       11. Device according to claim 5, wherein said first presser means comprises two presser elements, said presser elements being provided for acting independently on the upper region of the stack in proximity of said first end side to lock the stack against said flat support and, respectively, in proximity of a second end side of the stack, opposite to said first end side, for gripping the stack. 
     
     
       12. In combination a pickup head being movable along perpendicular axes for picking up stacks of products from a flat support, the head comprising: a supporting bracket;   first presser means being mounted on said bracket for pressing on an upper region of a stack, said first presser means being operatable for acting independently on said upper region, at least in proximity of a first end side of said stack;   a flexible lamina mounted at a lower base of the head, said lamina being slidingly movable with a reciprocating motion at the base of said head to enter in an insertion region between said stack and said flat support; and   second presser means being supported a front region of said head for vertical movement, said second presser means comprising: lower ends thereof for acting on said flat support; and   feet elements rotatably mounted at said lower ends, said feet elements being rotatable in mutually opposite directions between an inactive position in which they exert pressure on said flat support, and a position for insertion between said stack and said flat support for raising said stack at said insertion region to facilitate insertion of said lamina.     
     
     
       13. The combination of claim 12, wherein said second presser means comprises two cylinders having vertical axes, each of said cylinders being fixed in an upward region to a cross-member and arranged between an upright and a respective profiled element of the stack, said cross-member being supported by said head, said cylinders being provided with extendable rods, said feet elements being rigidly and eccentrically supported at free ends of said rods. 
     
     
       14. The combination of claim 13, wherein actuator means are further provided for respectively moving said rods vertically and for turning said rods about said respective vertical axes so as to rotate said feet in mutually opposite directions between said inactive position and said insertion position. 
     
     
       15. The combination of claim 14, wherein said feet are eccentrically mounted on said rods for being directed towards each other in said inactive position and, upon rotation into said insertion position, to be arranged parallel to each other and to said lamina. 
     
     
       16. The combination of claim 12, wherein said head further comprises two uprights arranged symmetrically with respect to said lamina, and wherein each stack has vertical profiled elements, each one of said uprights contacting a respective one of said profiled elements. 
     
     
       17. The combination of claim 12, wherein said head comprises a blade, said blade being slidingly movable at the base of the head with a reciprocating motion, said flexible lamina being fixed at a front part of said blade so as to be movable along with the blade. 
     
     
       18. The combination of claim 12, wherein said first presser means comprises two presser elements, said presser elements being provided for acting independently on the upper region of the stack in proximity of said first end side to lock the stack against said flat support and, respectively, in proximity of a second end side of the stack, opposite to said first end side, for gripping the stack.